In a significant step toward strengthening the tennis ecosystem in India, the Government of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) have announced an ambitious initiative to host 20 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments across the state.
The initiative aims to expand competitive tennis beyond metropolitan centres and bring international-level opportunities directly to district-level players. The announcement was made during a press conference in Mumbai, where senior officials from the government and MSLTA outlined a long-term vision to make Maharashtra one of India’s leading tennis hubs.
The first tournament under this initiative will begin in Mumbai from March 15 to 22, followed by events in Nagpur from March 22 to 29 and in Sambhajinagar from March 29 to April 5.
Expanding Tennis Beyond Major Cities
Over the past five years, Maharashtra has successfully hosted several major international tennis events, including ATP Tour 250, WTA 125, and PMR Challenger tournaments. Building on that momentum, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, in collaboration with MSLTA and the ATP organising committee, has now decided to expand tennis development directly to the district level.
Under the initiative, 20 ITF-sanctioned tournaments will be organised across different districts of the state. These events will feature prize money categories of USD 15,000 and USD 25,000, offering valuable opportunities for Indian players to earn international ranking points while competing at home.
Present at the press conference were MSLTA President Prashant Sutar, MSLTA Honorary Secretary Sunder Iyer, Ashish Sharma (IAS), Chairman of the ITF Tournament Initiative, and Shravan Hardikar (IAS), Managing Director of MMRDA and Secretary of the initiative.
Reducing Financial Burden on Indian Players
One of the key motivations behind the project is to ease the financial challenges faced by Indian players attempting to compete internationally. Currently, many Indian tennis players are required to travel abroad frequently to participate in ranking tournaments, which can involve significant travel and accommodation expenses. This financial burden often limits opportunities for talented players who lack the resources to compete regularly on the international circuit.
By hosting ITF tournaments within Maharashtra, players will now be able to earn valuable ATP and WTA ranking points without having to travel overseas, making the pathway to higher-level tournaments more accessible.
Speaking about the initiative, MSLTA President Prashant Sutar emphasised the importance of decentralising tennis development.
“This initiative marks the first significant step in my tenure as MSLTA President to ensure tennis is no longer confined to metropolitan cities but reaches rural and district-level players across Maharashtra. By hosting ITF tournaments on home soil, we want to give our players the right exposure and infrastructure without the financial burden of overseas travel,” he said.
Government Support and Infrastructure Development
The Maharashtra government has provided strong institutional backing for the project. The Urban Development Department has issued a special Government Resolution (GR) to facilitate the organisation of these tournaments. Cities selected to host the events will either have existing tennis infrastructure or will see new facilities developed to support international competitions.
The tournaments will also be financially supported through a five percent sports allocation from the annual budgets of municipal corporations, ensuring that local authorities play a role in promoting sports development. Additional funding is expected to come from partnerships with local industries, institutions, and private stakeholders, creating a collaborative model for sports development.
District-Level Implementation
To ensure smooth execution across multiple locations, the state government plans to establish district-level organising committees. These committees will operate under the leadership of Municipal Commissioners, District Collectors, and Superintendents of Police, ensuring coordination between administrative authorities and sporting bodies.
The government has appointed Ashish Sharma (IAS) as Chairman of the ITF Tournament Initiative, while Shravan Hardikar (IAS) will serve as Secretary and oversee the implementation process.
Ashish Sharma highlighted the broader vision behind the initiative.
“We are partnering with MSLTA to develop tennis and build a robust ecosystem from the ground up. This will empower districts to host world-class events, fostering talent and infrastructure that positions Maharashtra as a tennis powerhouse,” he said.
Boost for Junior Development
In addition to the ITF tournaments, organisers are also planning All India-level junior tournaments to take place in the week preceding each international event. This strategy will allow junior players to compete locally while also observing senior professionals in action, creating a learning environment for emerging athletes.
Shravan Hardikar explained how this structure will benefit young players.
“Alongside the ITF events, we are organising All India-level junior tournaments in the preceding week, so juniors can come, play, and also watch the seniors in action. Our aim is to ensure more players get into the sport at the grassroots level so that we can have more players from Maharashtra shine in the future,” he said.
A Five-Year Vision for Maharashtra Tennis
The initiative forms part of a five-year roadmap designed to elevate Maharashtra’s status in global tennis. By combining infrastructure development, international competitions, and grassroots programmes, the project aims to create a sustainable tennis ecosystem across the state. If executed successfully, the plan could significantly increase the number of Indian players competing on the professional circuit while strengthening the country’s presence in international tennis.
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With the first tournament set to begin in Mumbai later this month, Maharashtra’s ambitious push to bring world-class tennis to districts across the state is about to take its first major step.
